Historique

In 2016, a special committee led by Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) (then known as Economic Planning Unit (EPU)), has formulated a B40 Action Plan to address the issues of increasing cost of living through a consultative process with B40 communities.

Since then, the findings from the consultation with the B40 communities were used to validate as well as to inform the study of B40 challenges, which has been completed with recommendations. Among others, the study pointed out a few key findings.

• To make services and B40 programmes very effective and impactful is very challenging due to the fact that urban poverty is by nature, multidimensional and heterogeneous.
• Cooperation and collaboration between government agencies is difficult as each work within their mandate to resolve multidimensional problems in silos. Each agency maintains its own database of target groups corresponding to its own services and programmes. The absence of data sharing policies and provisions in government has hindered efforts to consolidate personal data.
• Monitoring and evaluation of cross-agency and ministerial coordination of B40 programmes is not currently a common practice. This hinders deeper outcome-based analysis that can give feedback on gaps or inefficiencies such as, duplications, insufficient assessment, and inconsistent indicators and standards.

Taking this lead, a Research Officer position is required towards the achievement of two objectives:

1. To work closely with the Project Core Team to design, develop and conduct primary data collection exercise that aims to test if empowering government frontline staff using the Citizen’s Journey Approach can result in measurable improvements in B40 citizen’s experience and their access to government services. The Research Officer is expected to provide leadership, and expert input into the analysis of the data / information gathered.
2. To analyse and report findings of the research exercise to support UNDP in the development of the B40 Strategy Papers for the 12 Malaysia Plan.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Objective 1: To work closely with the Project Core Team to design, develop and conduct primary data collection exercise that aims to test if empowering government frontline staff using the Citizen’s Journey Approach can result in measurable improvements in B40 citizen’s experience and their access to government services. The Research Officer is expected to provide leadership, and expert input into the analysis of the data / information gathered.

One of the key recommendations from the B40 study report was the need to enhance service delivery touchpoint experiences and effectiveness through the Citizen Journey Approach (CJA). This pilot wants to test if measurable improvements in citizen’s experience and access to government services can result from empowering frontline staff to understand the end-to-end journey of citizens with its services - how, when and why citizens use or need a service.

Given both quantitative and qualitative results are expected from the pilot, the Research Officer is required to design data gathering of the project by way of ensuring both types of data can be captured in a systematic manner such that it can be analysed in a meaningful manner for policy recommendations.

The CJA will be piloted with a select group of government frontline staff whom are expected to record / capture quantitative and qualitative data during the duration of the pilot. By the end of the pilot, these information are expected to be collated by the Research Officer for analysis. The results of the CJA will be baselined against current government process.

Examples of qualitative data possibly expected from the pilot to capture nuances of issues and impact for the project’s deeper learning, includes:

• Anecdotes from both frontliners and B40 household through the CJA
• Frontliners’ observations
• Citizen’s experience and perception

Guiding principles of the pilot project:

• While the scope of the pilot has been established, experimentation and the flexibility for variations is encouraged in response to new information as the pilot progresses.
• The pilot’s intention is to demonstrate the value of the CJA, and is designed to learn useful lessons (even if results are not seen to be successful) to improve subsequent initiatives.
• The pilot considers existing government processes and procedures – so that roles and functions are not duplicated, and implementation does not increase workload of participating frontliners.
• Training and guidance on the implementation of the pilot will be provided.
• Check-points are established in the pilot to assess its progress.

More specifically, the Officer shall work closely with and support the Pilot Project Core Team to:

1.  Design a systematic approach to capturing both qualitative and quantitative data from the pilot project.

• Determine the important qualitative and quantitative parameters to be collected for the objectives of the pilot.
• Understand and consider the fundamental issues of data quality and bias in data collection.
• Design templates and guidance documents for collection of primary data.
• Plan data collection and management methods – focal point for all data collectors.
• Facilitate mid-term progress check on data collection process.

2.  Facilitate workshop training for data collectors.

• Plan data collection training, including develop data training module / materials.
• Introduce data collection toolkits to data collectors.
• Train data collectors to successfully deploy the established collection methods, including easy methods of updating data collected.

3. Analyse qualitative and quantitative data collected, and prepare a report to present the findings.

• Gather, evaluate and analyse relevant data and information.
• Prepare report in a consistent manner.
• Make appropriate conclusions that are supported by the evidence and analysis of the data.

Objective 2: To analyse and report findings of the research exercise to support UNDP in the development of the B40 Strategy Papers for the 12 Malaysia Plan.

UNDP is preparing a few Strategy Papers as input to 12th Malaysia Plan. The Strategy Papers under Inclusive Development Growth looks to address B40 challenges and issues including of the Orang Asli.  The Strategy Papers aim to recommend suggestions for poverty reduction, through strategies in economic empowerment, income equality and access to social safety nets. Research such as desktop review, fact-finding interviews and surveys will be required to build evidences to support strategies recommended.

The Officer shall, with guidance of UNDP Development Economist:

1. Provide B40 research and data analysis support necessary for the development of the Strategy Paper for 12 Malaysia Plan.

• Plan data collection / fact-finding methods to meet the objectives of each Strategy Paper.
• Conduct background research and/or supporting studies for the Strategy Papers.
• Involved in stakeholder consultations or interviews where necessary, including liaising with think tanks, research institutions, and NGOs.
• Compile research materials in a systematic way and prepare background briefs / briefing notes as and when necessary.
• Generate quantitative data charts/tables/graphs for presentations and Strategy Papers when required.

Duration of work:

The consultancy is a full-time engagement which will take place from May 2019 to 31 December 2019 (8 months).

Duty Station:

The B40 Research Officer will be based on full-time in UNDP Office at Putrajaya.

Compétences

• Passion and strong drive for improving the lives of the disadvantaged and poor communities in Malaysia.
• Demonstrates strong analytical skills.
• Supports team effectively and a good team player.
• Ability to work flexibility and creatively in the context of an exploratory pilot project implementation.
• Consistently approaches work with enthusiasm and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills, in English and Bahasa Malaysia.
• Ability to work under pressure and time constraint, and produce quality deliverables.
• Understanding about government programmes, processes and systems, is an added advantage.

Qualifications et expériences requises

• Minimum Master’s degree and at least 3 years’ research experience preferably in economics, developmental economics, statistics and political science or other related fields;or
• In lieu of a Master's degree, a minimum Bachelor’s degree with 5 years’ research experience preferably in economics, developmental economics, statistics and political science or other related fields.

Experience:

• Experience working in participatory social research with urban and rural disadvantaged communities.
• Experience in collecting and analysing data, and generating reports.
• Experienced in rapporteuring and / or facilitating stakeholder consultations.
• Experience working in collaborative team processes.
• Experience in the usage of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), to generate charts/tables/graphs to present data / research findings.
• Experience in working with public or private research institutions or think tanks or local development actors, is an added advantage.
• Experience in project management or coordination would be an added advantage.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical Proposal:

• Explain in a cover page (maximum 2 pages) how candidate’s qualification and experience in research makes them suitable for the work and can lead towards the successful deliverable of the two objectives of this consultancy within the required timeframe.
• Please list and summarise at least 3 samples of research / analysis work previously involved.

Financial proposal

Specify a daily fee amount which is all inclusive and take into account various expenses the candidate expects to incur during the contract, including:

• The daily professional fee;
• The cost of travel from the home base to the duty station (UNDP Office, Putrajaya) and vice versa;
• The cost of envisaged travel (refer to financial proposal notes below);
• Communications, utilities and consumables; and
• Life, health and any other insurance.

Note: In the event of unforeseen additional travels, UNDP will reimburse individual contractor based on pro-rated lump sum travel cost as indicated in the financial proposal, upon submission of a travel claim and all necessary supporting documents, following UNDP standard procedure

Contracts based on daily fee

The B40 Research Officer will be paid on a monthly based on time sheet completed with description of tasks, certified by UNDP Programme Manager. UNDP makes payments based on the actual number of days worked. Payment must be supported by a duly completed time sheet.

The estimated maximum number of workdays for the duration of the consultancy is as follows:

Travel Costs:

Professional fee

UNDP makes payments based on the actual number of days worked. Payments must be supported by duly completed time sheet.

Travel costs

1. Estimate 2 days, 1 night for each time travel to Kelantan and Sabah. Travel for consultation within KL is envisaged to be day trips.
2. Please include flight, ground travel, accommodation and meals into lump sum cost.
3. In the event of unforeseen additional travels, UNDP will reimburse individual contractor based on pro-rated lump sum travel cost as indicated in this financial proposal.
4. Reimbursement of travel costs (either envisaged or unforeseeable travels) will be made upon submission of a travel claim and all necessary supporting documents, following UNDP standard procedure.
5. Regardless of the purpose of travel, the prevailing price for an economy class ticket on the most direct routes shall apply for all individual contractors. UNDP will not accept travel costs exceeding those of a full-fare economy class ticket. Individual contractors wishing to upgrade their travel to business or first class shall do so at their own expense.

How to Apply:

• Kindly download the Letter of Confirmation of interest and availability and  General Terms and Conditions;
• Complete the Letter of interest attached financial proposal (as per the requirements mentioned above);
• Read and agree to the General Terms & Conditions;
• Click the ‘apply’ icon and complete what is required;
• Scan all documents into 1 pdf folder and then upload;
• For clarification question, please email to procurement.my@undp.org. The clarification question deadline is three (3) days before the closing. When emailing for clarification questions, please put "MyIC/2019/012" as the subject matter.

Forms and General terms & conditions to be downloaded:

• The UN Personal History Form (P11) is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/P11%20for%20SC%20&%20IC.doc?download
• The Letter of Confirmation of Interest at: http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Letter%20of%20Interest%20_Annex%201.docx?download
• The General Terms & Conditions for Individual contract is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/General%20Conditions%20of%20Contract%20for%20IC.pdf?download 
• The General Terms & Conditions for Reimbursement Loan Agreement is available at:http://www.my.undp.org/content/dam/malaysia/docs/Procurement/Reimbursable%20Loan%20Agreement%20_%20Terms%20&%20Conditions.pdf?download 

Evaluation:

Individuals will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individuals whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; [70%]

* Financial Criteria weight; [30%]

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.